Game Day: Swift Current Broncos at Calgary Hitmen

SCOTT CRUICKSHANK and KRISTEN ODLAND, Calgary Herald03.19.2013

Colleen De Neve/ Calgary Herald
CALGARY, AB --MARCH 20, 2013 -- Calgary Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger looked to stop a shot during practice on March 20, 2013. The Hitmen are preparing for the opening playoff series against the Swift Current Broncos Thursday.
(Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald) (For Sports story by Kristen Odland and Scott Cruickshank)
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Hitmen F Cody Sylvester — Every team looks at their captain to set the tone and there’s no doubt Sylvester will provide. After sitting out for most of last year’s first-round series against Brandon with a concussion, the 20-year-old Vernon native --- who also has 37 games of WHL playoff experience including his 2010 trip to the Memorial Cup --- will be ready. His leadership is undeniable. His grit? Well, that’s just a bonus. Calgary will need that, too, considering their first-round opponent is not going to play nice.

Broncos LW Adam Lowry — Big, mean, and strong on the puck, the son of former Calgary Flames captain and coach Dave Lowry dominated in 2012-13. Not shockingly, the Winnipeg Jets prospect also was their top-producer against the Hitmen with three goals and four assists in the four-game season series. Sidelined with a broken wrist last year, Lowry starred in all 72 games with Swift Current and finished with 42 goals and 43 assists, good enough for 12th in the league and averaged 1.22 points per game. He also went on a ridiculous 21-game point streak which shows his consistency. No angel either, with 102 penalty minutes (third-most on the team). The Calgary-raised product will be itching to make a statement.

Hitmen D Alex Roach — One of Calgary’s top defenceman, Roach is wrapping up his best WHL campaign on paper with 15 goals and 34 assists in 62 games. But, more importantly, he has developed a professional mentality. After signing with the L.A. Kings, the future started to sink in for the six -foot-four 228-pounder --- and this season it showed. With a terrifying shot, led the team with a plus-42 and, most notably, smartened up his play with the puck. Dogged with a few injuries this year (including a scary instant when he took a puck to his throat-area), Roach’s regular season successes are nice --- but need to be translated into the post-season for the Hitmen to get anywhere.

Hitmen G Chris Driedger — The Ottawa Senators draft pick has proved he’s an elite goaltender in the WHL, putting together a 36-14-4 record, a 2.51 goals against average, and a 0.915 save percentage. But as the 18-year-old knows, playoffs are when reputations are forged. And last year’s first-round exit at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings wasn’t how he wants to be remembered.

Broncos LW Coda Gordon — Last year, the Cochrane native was thrilled when the Calgary Flames selected him in the 2012 draft. So, playing at the Saddledome, he’ll be looking to impress. In the past, Gordon’s skating has been an issue (the lingering effects of breaking his femur at age 14 in bantam hockey) but his production hasn’t --- especially this season. Gordon finished second in team scoring with 17 goals and 42 assists in 70 games.

Six things to watch

1. The goalies — The best goalie wins, plain and simple. Last spring, including playoffs, Driedger split time with Brandon Glover. But this year, the show is his. Meanwhile, newcomer Eetu Laurikainen (taken 20th in the CHL import drat last year and currently ranked 20th among North American by NHL central scouting) is no pushover. The sublimely skilled Finn played 60 (!) of the Broncos’ 72 games, he compiled a record of 30-23-6 and 2.40 goals against and a 0.922 save percentage.

2. Discipline — The Hitmen finished as the second-most penalized team in the WHL. While intimidation and grit has its’ place in the post-season, it’s worth noting Swift Current’s power-play at 21.5 per cent is fifth-best in the entire league. The home boys must keep things under control or they’ll get burned.

3. Calgary connections — The most obvious connection to this city is at the top of the Broncos’ scoring, none other than Adam Lowry, son of Dave (former captain of the Flames, coach of the Flames, coach of the Hitmen, and current coach of the Victoria Royals). Other local lads include C Jay Merkley, D Dillon Heatherington, D Brycen Martin, D Bobby Zinkan, RW Levi Bews, and LW Ryon Moser will have a home coming party. Another area product is Cochrane’s LW Coda Gordon, a sixth-round pick of the Flames.

4. Swansongs — In a week, the WHL careers of three 20-year-old will be over. Which ones? Well, it’s between Hitmen D Spencer Humphries, RW Brooks Macek, and F Cody Sylvester or Swift Current D Daulton Reum, LW Ryon Moser, and LW Chance Lund. All are 1992 birthdays --- all are done after this season.

5. Road warriors — While their home records are comparable, Swift Current at 20-12-4 and Calgary at 22-10-4, the Hitmen dominated away from the Dome with a 24-11-1 posting --- third-best road winning percentage in the league. The Broncos were 16-17-3 away from Swift Current. This can be a defining component of a season series.

6. The evolution of the Hitmen — In two seasons, the Hitmen went from the laughingstock of the WHL to another playoff contender. Are they ready to rejoin the elite this year? They’re healthy enough, experienced enough, deep enough, and have good goaltending. Time will tell if they can put it all together.

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